APPLE CHARLOTTE SLICE

SERVES 12

PREP AND COOK:

1 HOUR, 20 MINS

200g unsalted butter, melted, cooled to warm

½ cup caster sugar

2 tsps vanilla extract

1 egg

1½ cups self-raising

flour

1 cup plain flour

FILLING

7 Granny Smith apples (1.3kg), peeled, cored and cut into 3cm pieces

¹⁄³ cup caster sugar

ICING

1½ cups icing sugar mixture 2-2½ tblsps passionfruit pulp

1 Lightly grease an 18cm x 28cm rectangular slice pan.

2 To make filling, combine apples with 2 tblsps water in a large saucepan over a medium to high heat. Gently boil, covered, stirring occasionally for about 12 minutes, or until apples are tender. Remove. Stir in sugar. Transfer to a large bowl. Cool. 3 To make pastry, whisk butter, sugar, vanilla and egg in a large bowl until smooth. Add flours. Stir to combine. Turn onto a clean bench. Shape into a soft dough.

4 Using kitchen scales to weigh pastry. Remove one-third. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Press remaining pastry over base and up sides of prepared pan. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

5 Spoon filling into pastry case. Smooth over the top.

6 Roll out reserved pastry between two sheets of baking paper until large enough to cover filling. Place over filling. Trim edges. Press to seal.

7 Cook in a moderate oven (180°C), for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove. Stand in pan for 30 minutes. Turn upright onto a wire rack to cool.

8 To make icing, place sugar in a bowl. Stir in enough passionfruit pulp to form a thick, spreadable consistency. Spread over slice. Stand at room temperature until set.

9 Serve slice cut into squares.

Popular in Asian cuisine, egg nests are super tasty for a light lunch or dinner. We have the perfect tool that creates even egg nets, and it’s mess free! Pour beaten eggs into a plastic squeezy bottle (available from most major supermarkets or

frying pan kitchenware shops). Heat a non-stick

egg mixture in a over a medium to low heat. Squeeze

Cook for about 1 to 2 criss-cross pattern to cover base.

from pan. Top egg nets minutes, or until egg is set. Slide

an Asian vermicelli with your favourite fillings such as

or gently roll up. noodle salad or fried rice and fold